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Between
When a supernatural freak of nature forces her family to separate, seventeen-year-old Charlie Page must turn to her frustrating (yet gorgeous) neighbor, Seth, to help reunite them. Seth whisks Charlie to Ellauria--a magical world filled with the creatures of myths and legends--and tells her of the Fellowship, the group charged with protecting mystical beings from human discovery. (All except that attention whore is a total lost cause.)
But when Charlie learns that she's under the Fellowship's protection herself, well, stressed is an understatement. Ellauria should be the safest place for Charlie while the Fellowship works to find her family, but things in the mystical realm aren't what they seem. Magic is failing, creatures are dying, and the Fellowship insists Charlie holds the key to saving everyone.
With her family still missing and the danger in Ellauria growing, Charlie doesn't know who she can trust. She's dealing with a power she never asked for, falling for a guy she can't have, and being forced to choose between her destiny and her heart. And if she chooses wrong, she could destroy magic forever. Charlie may be in over her head.
But when Charlie learns that she's under the Fellowship's protection herself, well, stressed is an understatement. Ellauria should be the safest place for Charlie while the Fellowship works to find her family, but things in the mystical realm aren't what they seem. Magic is failing, creatures are dying, and the Fellowship insists Charlie holds the key to saving everyone.
With her family still missing and the danger in Ellauria growing, Charlie doesn't know who she can trust. She's dealing with a power she never asked for, falling for a guy she can't have, and being forced to choose between her destiny and her heart. And if she chooses wrong, she could destroy magic forever. Charlie may be in over her head.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2014
28 people are currently reading
2943 people want to read
About the author
Megan Whitmer
3 books156 followersMegan Whitmer lives in Kentucky with her family. She loves all things Southern, and has a soft spot for football, kissing scenes, and things that sparkle. Aside from her personal blog, she's also a contributing blogger for www.YAmisfits.com, www.allthewritenotes.com, and www.herkentucky.com. When she's not writing, Megan spends her time drinking absurd amounts of Cherry Coke Zero and wishing someone would pay her to tweet. Her debut novel, a YA fantasy called BETWEEN, will be published by Spencer Hill Press in July 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
April 3, 2018
Point of View: First, Present tense (Like Hunger Games)
Source: NetGalley
Predictability: 4 out of 5 (Where 1 is George RR Martin (If the characters make a plan or think about the future I know it isn’t going to go that way.) And 5 is Cinder (where I guessed what was going to happen long before it did, but it was still a great book.)
My Rating: 8/10 Stars
Don’t read the official summary! It details the entire novel and I’d rather go into a book blind. (Read mine instead ;)
My Summary:
Charlie, (short for Charlotte) and Sam are celebrating their seventeenth birthday when they’re attacked by a monster. Their mom bravely puts herself in front of the monster, but this isn’t just a mom protecting her kids, she shows neither fear nor surprise. Then Seth, the older boy their mom adopted five years ago, shows up and throws their mom a knife telling her how to kill the monster. She injures the monster, but doesn’t kill it.
Their mom grabs Sam and disappear and Seth takes Charlie, explaining that they’ve flickered, teleported with magic. The next thing Charlie knows Seth’s guided her through a portal and into another world he calls the Between.
Charlie learns her mom and Seth work for an organization of magical creatures called the Fellowship. They guard the mystical realm and cover up sightings of magical creatures in our world. (All except Bigfoot: that attention whore is a total lost cause.) The Between is the magical land in between the two worlds created by Mother Nature herself.
My Review:
In the mystical realm live almost all of the creatures from fairy tales and legends; fairies, centaurs, trolls, leprechauns, unicorns, and others that are unique to this book. I thought that all of the ones we learned about were well done, traditional with enough unique to make them interesting.
Charlie is not your traditional high school girl. She’s witty and quirky and has big dreams of becoming an artist. Sam dreams of becoming a musician and all three of them (Charlie, Sam and their mom) have a great relationship. Seth’s parents died and he moved to town five years ago, their mom kind of adopted him after he came around looking for a lawn mowing job. Charlie thinks he’s too serious and too much of a rule follower, but still annoyingly cute.
The Good:
In one chapter I liked and cared about these characters, that’s all it took and I’m worried something will happen to one of them. We meet more characters in the mystical world and even those I don’t like were well developed and colorful. The characters have so many cute little quirks that make them real. I loved the humor, it really lightened the mood.
I can tell a lot of TLC went in to this book. I could accurately picture the world. Sometimes I’m bored by descriptions, but these were well done.
The world building was well developed, as was the history and the creatures / people. The magic was a bit basic, elemental powers, but how the magic was taught was unique.
The romance wasn’t love at first sight! It felt true to real life! There was another flirty guy who she found attractive and I was afraid of a love triangle, but they only became friends and neither had feelings for the other beyond that.
The plot was solid and without holes. The pacing at the beginning was good, but it slowed a little before the end. (The beginning of the book is easily ten stars.)
The ending was good, the story line wrapped up well, but not perfectly. This could be a standalone book, but there’s still a hint of things to come.
The Bad:
Charlie’s mom banned swearing, so she came up with pseudo words to use instead. At first this was cute, but it was a little over done, especially in her thoughts.
Every time Charlie disobeys and sneaks off bad thing happen. People are trying to kill you girl! Maybe you should listen and stay put.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. Will I read the Sequel? Yes, where is it!
Source: NetGalley
Predictability: 4 out of 5 (Where 1 is George RR Martin (If the characters make a plan or think about the future I know it isn’t going to go that way.) And 5 is Cinder (where I guessed what was going to happen long before it did, but it was still a great book.)
My Rating: 8/10 Stars
Don’t read the official summary! It details the entire novel and I’d rather go into a book blind. (Read mine instead ;)
My Summary:
Charlie, (short for Charlotte) and Sam are celebrating their seventeenth birthday when they’re attacked by a monster. Their mom bravely puts herself in front of the monster, but this isn’t just a mom protecting her kids, she shows neither fear nor surprise. Then Seth, the older boy their mom adopted five years ago, shows up and throws their mom a knife telling her how to kill the monster. She injures the monster, but doesn’t kill it.
Their mom grabs Sam and disappear and Seth takes Charlie, explaining that they’ve flickered, teleported with magic. The next thing Charlie knows Seth’s guided her through a portal and into another world he calls the Between.
Charlie learns her mom and Seth work for an organization of magical creatures called the Fellowship. They guard the mystical realm and cover up sightings of magical creatures in our world. (All except Bigfoot: that attention whore is a total lost cause.) The Between is the magical land in between the two worlds created by Mother Nature herself.
My Review:
In the mystical realm live almost all of the creatures from fairy tales and legends; fairies, centaurs, trolls, leprechauns, unicorns, and others that are unique to this book. I thought that all of the ones we learned about were well done, traditional with enough unique to make them interesting.
Charlie is not your traditional high school girl. She’s witty and quirky and has big dreams of becoming an artist. Sam dreams of becoming a musician and all three of them (Charlie, Sam and their mom) have a great relationship. Seth’s parents died and he moved to town five years ago, their mom kind of adopted him after he came around looking for a lawn mowing job. Charlie thinks he’s too serious and too much of a rule follower, but still annoyingly cute.
The Good:
In one chapter I liked and cared about these characters, that’s all it took and I’m worried something will happen to one of them. We meet more characters in the mystical world and even those I don’t like were well developed and colorful. The characters have so many cute little quirks that make them real. I loved the humor, it really lightened the mood.
I can tell a lot of TLC went in to this book. I could accurately picture the world. Sometimes I’m bored by descriptions, but these were well done.
The world building was well developed, as was the history and the creatures / people. The magic was a bit basic, elemental powers, but how the magic was taught was unique.
The romance wasn’t love at first sight! It felt true to real life! There was another flirty guy who she found attractive and I was afraid of a love triangle, but they only became friends and neither had feelings for the other beyond that.
The plot was solid and without holes. The pacing at the beginning was good, but it slowed a little before the end. (The beginning of the book is easily ten stars.)
The ending was good, the story line wrapped up well, but not perfectly. This could be a standalone book, but there’s still a hint of things to come.
The Bad:
Charlie’s mom banned swearing, so she came up with pseudo words to use instead. At first this was cute, but it was a little over done, especially in her thoughts.
Every time Charlie disobeys and sneaks off bad thing happen. People are trying to kill you girl! Maybe you should listen and stay put.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. Will I read the Sequel? Yes, where is it!
August 14, 2014
4.5
If you follow Megan Whitmer on Twitter (which you totally should) then you know she’s one of the funniest gals out there. So when she announced the release of her debut novel, BETWEEN, I just knew that I’d have to read it. And holy sheet, am I ever glad I did.
The story starts right away, which is always great, and soon, I was introduced to the Between—a place that’s between the mortal world and the magical realm. Megan was super freaking smart to make her MC, Charlie, an artist, because her artist’s perspective was perfect for describing both the Between, and Ellauria, the magical realm. The details filled my imagination, yet didn’t make me work for the imagery, which is the ultimate best kind of world building, in my opinion. Not because I’m lazy of course, but sometimes, too much description of a new world can stop the plot dead in its tracks. But that wasn’t the case in BETWEEN. Like, at all. In fact, the plot raced through each chapter, and oh what a plot it was! But I'm not going to tell you much about that because it's better you read it for yourself. You're welcome.
Also? Yes, I really meant to write “sheet,” in the first paragraph of this review because it’s one of my new favourite non-swears, which often leaves the lips of one of the snarkiest and most relatable female heroines I’ve ever read. Is it weird that I saw some of myself in Charlie, who’s a 17-year old mystical being? Probably. But I don’t care. Because she’s awesome. (Yes, I’m aware that by that, I’m also describing myself as awesome. Take it as you will, ha!)
Charlie’s internal narrative was ducking hilarious, and it had me laughing out loud more than once. If only I could be as witty. Seriously. Like you know when, in real life, you think of an awesome retort hours, days, or even weeks later? That’s basically how Charlie speaks and thinks ALL THE TIME. And the creative non-swearing was not only placed in the most perfect of places, but it added an extra element that’s uniquely Megan (as I read on her blog once that she purposefully didn’t want profanity in her book.). That small and consistent bit of voice really added to the overall vibe. So Megan gets some props for that.
I’m slightly bummed that there was the still-creepy-and-will-always-be-creepy age difference between Charlie and Seth (her neighbour-turned-mentor), but thankfully, Charlie had some flirtatious moments with a boy who was more age-appropriate, and I enjoyed those awkwardly charged moments immensely.
So if you’re a fan of YA fantasy, you’re absolutely going to want to pick up a copy of BETWEEN. There’s magic, killer dialogue, amazing one-liners, and enough chaos to keep you turning the pages, which is why I read it in one sitting even though I had a ton of other stuff to do.
So go out and get it, people! Go out and get it now!
If you follow Megan Whitmer on Twitter (which you totally should) then you know she’s one of the funniest gals out there. So when she announced the release of her debut novel, BETWEEN, I just knew that I’d have to read it. And holy sheet, am I ever glad I did.
The story starts right away, which is always great, and soon, I was introduced to the Between—a place that’s between the mortal world and the magical realm. Megan was super freaking smart to make her MC, Charlie, an artist, because her artist’s perspective was perfect for describing both the Between, and Ellauria, the magical realm. The details filled my imagination, yet didn’t make me work for the imagery, which is the ultimate best kind of world building, in my opinion. Not because I’m lazy of course, but sometimes, too much description of a new world can stop the plot dead in its tracks. But that wasn’t the case in BETWEEN. Like, at all. In fact, the plot raced through each chapter, and oh what a plot it was! But I'm not going to tell you much about that because it's better you read it for yourself. You're welcome.
Also? Yes, I really meant to write “sheet,” in the first paragraph of this review because it’s one of my new favourite non-swears, which often leaves the lips of one of the snarkiest and most relatable female heroines I’ve ever read. Is it weird that I saw some of myself in Charlie, who’s a 17-year old mystical being? Probably. But I don’t care. Because she’s awesome. (Yes, I’m aware that by that, I’m also describing myself as awesome. Take it as you will, ha!)
Charlie’s internal narrative was ducking hilarious, and it had me laughing out loud more than once. If only I could be as witty. Seriously. Like you know when, in real life, you think of an awesome retort hours, days, or even weeks later? That’s basically how Charlie speaks and thinks ALL THE TIME. And the creative non-swearing was not only placed in the most perfect of places, but it added an extra element that’s uniquely Megan (as I read on her blog once that she purposefully didn’t want profanity in her book.). That small and consistent bit of voice really added to the overall vibe. So Megan gets some props for that.
I’m slightly bummed that there was the still-creepy-and-will-always-be-creepy age difference between Charlie and Seth (her neighbour-turned-mentor), but thankfully, Charlie had some flirtatious moments with a boy who was more age-appropriate, and I enjoyed those awkwardly charged moments immensely.
So if you’re a fan of YA fantasy, you’re absolutely going to want to pick up a copy of BETWEEN. There’s magic, killer dialogue, amazing one-liners, and enough chaos to keep you turning the pages, which is why I read it in one sitting even though I had a ton of other stuff to do.
So go out and get it, people! Go out and get it now!
Want to read
January 15, 2013I've already been lucky enough to read AND LOVE this fantastic book but I can't wait to get the final version in my hands!
July 28, 2014
Between delivered! This book had it all – a compelling story, intriguing characters, heroes, snark, and magic.
I’ve had this one on my To Read list for over a year, and that always makes me a bit nervous, but this book didn’t disappoint. Between was a page burner. It grabbed your attention right from the beginning, and gave you just enough info to hook you – and want to know what was really going on.
I love Charlie. In so many YA novels, the female protagonist starts the story as weak, or clumsy, or in some other way “less than” the people around her. Charlie is not that girl. Throughout the novel she actually has enough confidence to think with her own mind. She questions the world she’s seeing, and she’s not afraid to go against popular opinion. It was so refreshing to have that kind of confidence and independence on display in a novel – I want more!
There were several great characters in this book, and some “known” characters with a bit of a twist (I definitely want to be a pixie instead of a fairy now – great dinner menu). I love Seth with the fury of 10,000 suns. The uniqueness of their relationship was beautifully crafted. I also enjoyed the ancillary characters and the color they added to the landscape of Ellauria.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, by the talented Megan Whitmer. If you don’t already follow her on twitter, I can’t recommend it strongly enough. She makes me laugh every day – follow her @MeganWhitmer
I’ve had this one on my To Read list for over a year, and that always makes me a bit nervous, but this book didn’t disappoint. Between was a page burner. It grabbed your attention right from the beginning, and gave you just enough info to hook you – and want to know what was really going on.
I love Charlie. In so many YA novels, the female protagonist starts the story as weak, or clumsy, or in some other way “less than” the people around her. Charlie is not that girl. Throughout the novel she actually has enough confidence to think with her own mind. She questions the world she’s seeing, and she’s not afraid to go against popular opinion. It was so refreshing to have that kind of confidence and independence on display in a novel – I want more!
There were several great characters in this book, and some “known” characters with a bit of a twist (I definitely want to be a pixie instead of a fairy now – great dinner menu). I love Seth with the fury of 10,000 suns. The uniqueness of their relationship was beautifully crafted. I also enjoyed the ancillary characters and the color they added to the landscape of Ellauria.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, by the talented Megan Whitmer. If you don’t already follow her on twitter, I can’t recommend it strongly enough. She makes me laugh every day – follow her @MeganWhitmer
July 29, 2014
I love Megan. This isn't news. Now, however, I love Megan AND her book.
Okay, so I don't read much fantasy, however, this book truly captivated me and I read it in under 2 days. It has all of the modern snark, wit, and swoony-ness that I know and love from Contemp and ALSO all of the awesome world-building and totally engaging and immersive storytelling that makes good fantasy good.
Megan's characters are amazing and funny and flawed in the best ways, and I found myself genuinely invested in what was happening to them and among them.
It really is awesome. It's so, so fantastic.
It's awestastic.
I can't WAIT for the next installment.
Okay, so I don't read much fantasy, however, this book truly captivated me and I read it in under 2 days. It has all of the modern snark, wit, and swoony-ness that I know and love from Contemp and ALSO all of the awesome world-building and totally engaging and immersive storytelling that makes good fantasy good.
Megan's characters are amazing and funny and flawed in the best ways, and I found myself genuinely invested in what was happening to them and among them.
It really is awesome. It's so, so fantastic.
It's awestastic.
I can't WAIT for the next installment.
July 24, 2014
Hilarity, magic, adventure, BRUTALLY TORTUOUS near kisses, and every mystical creature you could ever imagine. This debut will appeal to fantasy lovers who like a splash of real world and romance in the mix. Charlie also only swears with hysterical made-up curses (motherfluffers!) so this book, though classified as YA, will be great for the tween crowd as well. A fun debut!
August 10, 2014
Laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and magic-filled. Charlie Page is a heroine I wanted to hang out with well after the book ended, and Seth is a love interest I wanted to...well. That's all I'll say. :)
If you like sweet, funny fantasy, you can't go wrong with this book!
If you like sweet, funny fantasy, you can't go wrong with this book!
October 2, 2014
Wow, what an adventure! 4.5 shining stars! Loved loved loved it! I really hope there will be more Seth, Kieran and Charlie. Even at just 30% into the book the fear of this being a stand alone struck me. I wanted more LOL And I really hope there is!
Read
January 15, 2013I was lucky enough to read an early version of this AMAZING book. Loved the wonderful, snarky characters. I can't wait to get my hands on the final copy!
August 11, 2014
In short, you don't need this book in your life the way you need say, a dream with Robert Sheehan, not missing out on the gloriousness of his accent.
You also don't need it like I need a Scottish or Irish accent.
And you certainly don't want it in your life like you want the test results of the Trig test you messed up because you can't read. And that, far as I'd be concerned were I you, says it all.
But that's just my measly, lacking experience talking shit.
Basically, if you want the following with a dressing of words and words piled on top and characters feeling and knowing and being stuff, give it a go.
Girl: I'm not special. Not anymore!!! *goes to draw*
Others: No, no, you are!
(boring shit happens)
Girl: This is so Photoshopped(meaning bright and beautiful, I suppose).
Others: *Insert history, facts in the manner of interactive, educational CD's I would touch only with a jackhammer*
Girl: Look at that Photoshopped creature!
Others: Careful! You are special!
Girl: But-but! So much Photoshopping.
Others: *Insert history, facts in the manner of interactive, educational CD's I would touch only with a jackhammer*
Girl: My family! My family! More Photoshopping ahoy!
(boring shit happens)
Repeat stuff repeat stuff repeat stuff.
The writing bothered me a lot, and as a consequence, I skimmed. A lot. My eyes soaring over the plains; their attention sought by all but given only to a choice word or dialogues. My eyes be dragons, mister and mistresses.
If you're real nice and snarky, they might just give you a ride. Okay, analogy end. I don't even know what it means.
My issues with the writing style were two-fold, if we're condensing it down:
1) The descriptions were unfeeling, depthless and un-evocative. See the cover of the book? All the bright and vivid colors, in no way reminiscent of magic, but definitely linked with poor Photoshopping(too late to mention I don't like the cover?) skills- that yet surpass mine- is what the writing felt like to me. The creatures, plants, energy- everything our protagonist witnesses flew right over my head because I just couldn't bear to read it.
2) Specific phrases in each chapter that buggered me like a goddamn wedgie in the middle of an interview.
Seth thinks I'm beautiful...Seth finds me attractive shouldn't even register on the scale, but it does.
NO. Beautiful means aesthetically pleasing, as opposed to attractive. Not to mention this sentence structure,"He thinks blah blah and I shouldn't care but I doooo" is so trite, even cat-woman porn is shaking its head.
Nothing has changed, and everything has changed.
WRONG. LITERALLY EVERYTHING HAS IN YOUR WORLD HAS CHANGED. AS IN, I'M USING "LITERALLY" THE RIGHT WAY. Nothing has remained unchanged so stop spouting incorrectly philosophical lines to seem deeeppppp and shit.
To the story? The characters? The whimsical creatures it promises? Better off watching a Tim Burton movie, I say, even the crappy ones. They're mostly characterized by stereotypes:
The tree-historian wizard: grandfatherly, all-knowing, friendly disposition.
The punk fairy: the best. comes along to shower everyone with moments of refreshment. how much you wanna bet she dies on way or another at some point in the story that i didn't read?
The fairy who looks like a fairy: bitch. annoying. leader. hates the protagonist's guts.
dragon dude: screams, dangerous, leader.
romantic interest: rule follower, rule maker, her protector.
The protagonist was actually snarky at times, where the romantic interest was concerned. She rebuffed his actions and moods with fantastically appropriate jokes and sarcastic remarks but unfortunately, that remains the only high points in the book. Also, her demeanor seems tokenistic, only coming out in the presence of the guy, as if to prove herself a distinguished character in a sea of boring, whiny, useless heroines no matter that she remains so herself the rest of the time.
I happen to be the harbinger of bad books news' with the hope that someone will thank me for it. Or maybe not, everyone who's read Between seems to love it far more than I ever could, even in a parallel dimension where I never grew out of stupid boy bands phase in fifth grade.
Review copy provided by the publishers.
You also don't need it like I need a Scottish or Irish accent.
And you certainly don't want it in your life like you want the test results of the Trig test you messed up because you can't read. And that, far as I'd be concerned were I you, says it all.
But that's just my measly, lacking experience talking shit.
Basically, if you want the following with a dressing of words and words piled on top and characters feeling and knowing and being stuff, give it a go.
Girl: I'm not special. Not anymore!!! *goes to draw*
Others: No, no, you are!
(boring shit happens)
Girl: This is so Photoshopped(meaning bright and beautiful, I suppose).
Others: *Insert history, facts in the manner of interactive, educational CD's I would touch only with a jackhammer*
Girl: Look at that Photoshopped creature!
Others: Careful! You are special!
Girl: But-but! So much Photoshopping.
Others: *Insert history, facts in the manner of interactive, educational CD's I would touch only with a jackhammer*
Girl: My family! My family! More Photoshopping ahoy!
(boring shit happens)
Repeat stuff repeat stuff repeat stuff.
The writing bothered me a lot, and as a consequence, I skimmed. A lot. My eyes soaring over the plains; their attention sought by all but given only to a choice word or dialogues. My eyes be dragons, mister and mistresses.
If you're real nice and snarky, they might just give you a ride. Okay, analogy end. I don't even know what it means.My issues with the writing style were two-fold, if we're condensing it down:
1) The descriptions were unfeeling, depthless and un-evocative. See the cover of the book? All the bright and vivid colors, in no way reminiscent of magic, but definitely linked with poor Photoshopping(too late to mention I don't like the cover?) skills- that yet surpass mine- is what the writing felt like to me. The creatures, plants, energy- everything our protagonist witnesses flew right over my head because I just couldn't bear to read it.
2) Specific phrases in each chapter that buggered me like a goddamn wedgie in the middle of an interview.
Seth thinks I'm beautiful...Seth finds me attractive shouldn't even register on the scale, but it does.
NO. Beautiful means aesthetically pleasing, as opposed to attractive. Not to mention this sentence structure,"He thinks blah blah and I shouldn't care but I doooo" is so trite, even cat-woman porn is shaking its head.
Nothing has changed, and everything has changed.
WRONG. LITERALLY EVERYTHING HAS IN YOUR WORLD HAS CHANGED. AS IN, I'M USING "LITERALLY" THE RIGHT WAY. Nothing has remained unchanged so stop spouting incorrectly philosophical lines to seem deeeppppp and shit.
To the story? The characters? The whimsical creatures it promises? Better off watching a Tim Burton movie, I say, even the crappy ones. They're mostly characterized by stereotypes:
The tree-historian wizard: grandfatherly, all-knowing, friendly disposition.
The punk fairy: the best. comes along to shower everyone with moments of refreshment. how much you wanna bet she dies on way or another at some point in the story that i didn't read?
The fairy who looks like a fairy: bitch. annoying. leader. hates the protagonist's guts.
dragon dude: screams, dangerous, leader.
romantic interest: rule follower, rule maker, her protector.
The protagonist was actually snarky at times, where the romantic interest was concerned. She rebuffed his actions and moods with fantastically appropriate jokes and sarcastic remarks but unfortunately, that remains the only high points in the book. Also, her demeanor seems tokenistic, only coming out in the presence of the guy, as if to prove herself a distinguished character in a sea of boring, whiny, useless heroines no matter that she remains so herself the rest of the time.
I happen to be the harbinger of bad books news' with the hope that someone will thank me for it. Or maybe not, everyone who's read Between seems to love it far more than I ever could, even in a parallel dimension where I never grew out of stupid boy bands phase in fifth grade.
Review copy provided by the publishers.
July 23, 2014
An absolutely wonderful YA fantasy, Between was a fantastic read. With entertaining wit, sweet romance, intriguing magic, and a few surprises along the way, this book was great and I totally loved it!
Charlie was a lovely heroine. She was strong and fiercely loyal to those she cared about. Even in a totally new world where she constantly faced danger, she held her own. However, she did have a habit of being frustratingly reckless, often giving the impression that she was more concerned with breaking rules on principle rather than her own safety. It made me want to shake some sense into her more than once (if someplace is forbidden, there is obviously a reason for it, my dear). But, overall, I thought she was a great character that was easy to like.
Seth was wonderful. Like Charlie, he was very loyal to the people he cared about and would do anything to keep them safe (even though a certain someone didn't appreciate his efforts to curb her recklessness). He was sweet and adorable and I absolutely loved him.
I want to mention the setting, because it was really well done. The descriptions were vivid and brought me fully into the world of the book. It was all beautifully described and, without a doubt, one of my favorite parts of the book.
The romance was great. Charlie and Seth were perfect for each other, both loyal and matching each other, wit for wit. I thought they were a lovely couple.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were plenty of unexpected twists along the way, secrets that I never saw coming, and it all kept me totally drawn in. I loved the story and the ending was wonderful.
Between was a brilliant YA fantasy read. It had twists, secrets, and a very enjoyable story. From the magic, to to lush setting, and the lovely romance, this book was fantastic. YA lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Charlie was a lovely heroine. She was strong and fiercely loyal to those she cared about. Even in a totally new world where she constantly faced danger, she held her own. However, she did have a habit of being frustratingly reckless, often giving the impression that she was more concerned with breaking rules on principle rather than her own safety. It made me want to shake some sense into her more than once (if someplace is forbidden, there is obviously a reason for it, my dear). But, overall, I thought she was a great character that was easy to like.
Seth was wonderful. Like Charlie, he was very loyal to the people he cared about and would do anything to keep them safe (even though a certain someone didn't appreciate his efforts to curb her recklessness). He was sweet and adorable and I absolutely loved him.
I want to mention the setting, because it was really well done. The descriptions were vivid and brought me fully into the world of the book. It was all beautifully described and, without a doubt, one of my favorite parts of the book.
The romance was great. Charlie and Seth were perfect for each other, both loyal and matching each other, wit for wit. I thought they were a lovely couple.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were plenty of unexpected twists along the way, secrets that I never saw coming, and it all kept me totally drawn in. I loved the story and the ending was wonderful.
Between was a brilliant YA fantasy read. It had twists, secrets, and a very enjoyable story. From the magic, to to lush setting, and the lovely romance, this book was fantastic. YA lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
August 6, 2014
Between was a beautiful YA fantasy that I couldn’t put down. I love the wit that Megan wrote in this story. With Romance and magic Between hooked me at the first page.
Charlie is our main character and boy she’s a great heroine! She thinks on her own and makes her own decision. She has guts and takes charge. Then there’s Seth, who’s loyal to those he cares about and protects them the best he can. I love the relationship between Seth and Charlie.
Megan’s writing is very descriptive and I felt that I truly was in the world she created of Ellauria. Megan is great at World Building and I couldn’t put this book down. I enjoy the surprises and twist in the book. I must have more!
Charlie is our main character and boy she’s a great heroine! She thinks on her own and makes her own decision. She has guts and takes charge. Then there’s Seth, who’s loyal to those he cares about and protects them the best he can. I love the relationship between Seth and Charlie.
Megan’s writing is very descriptive and I felt that I truly was in the world she created of Ellauria. Megan is great at World Building and I couldn’t put this book down. I enjoy the surprises and twist in the book. I must have more!
March 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. review to come hopefully!
August 12, 2014
I LOVED this book…at first. Charlie was a fun, smart, hilarious, engaging heroine. Her relationship with Sam was awesome and something I was looking forward to seeing more of. Sadly, that was not the case. I enjoyed the first half of the book or so. Charlie's experiences in the 'mortal' realm and her initial interactions in the magical realm were entertaining and interesting. And then Charlie started getting on my nerves, a lot. Instead of doing helpful things to prepare herself or help solve the problems or even keep herself safe, she basically blew everything everyone told her off and pretty much did whatever she felt like at the time no matter who might get hurt or killed because of it. Then she would whine about how bad she felt and how she was responsible for whatever went wrong. And I couldn't feel bad for her because she totally was!! She also got considerably less funny. A lot of time seemed to be wasted with her just wandering aimlessly around Ellauria inadvertently causing trouble, and half heartedly "resisting" her feelings for Seth. That whole "relationship" felt tacked on and unnecessary. There was no chemistry at all. They went from barely friends to considering risking their lives to be together in about as long as it took to cross from the mortal realm to the magical one. But then there was the whole weird flirty thing with Kieran. I kept expecting the plot to get more complex. As new characters were introduced I was on the lookout for traitors and people who weren't what they said they were. I thought there would be SOMETHING more to the story than what we already knew. There was SO much potential with the magical realm and all. But nope, we just kept going over and over and over the same issues we learned about at the very beginning. The breaking point came when she was solely responsible for saving her mother and she not only failed, but took the time to stop and whine about it in the middle. Then when she gets attacked, instead of fighting back she just lays there and gives up. Literally. I couldn't believe it. After that I couldn't bring myself to care too much about what happened to her. Overall the book is decent enough and I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it. It just felt to me like there was some missed potential there. I love the cover, which is what initially made me want to read the book.
*I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
www.wanderingthepages.tumblr.com
*I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
www.wanderingthepages.tumblr.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2014
I was quite excited about this book when I first heard about it, and so I both preordered it and requested an ARC via NetGalley. I got approved for the ARC after release day, (thank you Spencer Hill Press!!) and that was the final push to move this one up on my reading list!
Charlotte (Charlie) Page and her twin brother Sam are enjoying their own quiet celebration of their birthday, when a strange creature comes out of nowhere and causes their world to change radically. Sam and their mum become separated from Charlie and Seth, their neighbour and honorary older brother of sorts. Without having time to deal with the terrifying appearance of a monster and having to separate from her family, Charlie finds herself in a place called the Between and then another place called Ellauria, each more beautiful than the next and more impossibly surprising and mind blogging for Charlie.
The world building in this book is quite amazing, with a new and different take on some well known creatures and a few new and unique ones. And one of my absolute favourites parts of the book were the descriptions, given that Charlie is an artist and she would appreciate her new surroundings with an eye for detail that would differ from any other character. Not only the descriptions were amazing and beautiful but also extremely visual and helped bring the world to life.
Charlie has to deal with so many revelations and life shaking truths she had not imagined possible that I can't blame her for her disbelief and rather rash behaviour on occasion. She ends up handling things rather well and even if she challenges a few rules along the way. Her relationship with Seth is quite interesting and seeing how it changes with all the revelations and how it evolves from sort of brotherly to forbidden. There was a slight hint at a love triangle around but thankfully it was discarded/resolved quite early on.
The pacing of the book was good, even if it seemed like there was three quarters of the book of build up and only the last quarter for the big showdown. And despite the main conflict being resolved, I was left a bit unsatisfied given that most of the personal conflicts are not resolved, and that leads me to wonder if Between will have a sequel, which is my hope!
A unique mix of fantasy and paranormal, well deserving of 3.5 stars!
Charlotte (Charlie) Page and her twin brother Sam are enjoying their own quiet celebration of their birthday, when a strange creature comes out of nowhere and causes their world to change radically. Sam and their mum become separated from Charlie and Seth, their neighbour and honorary older brother of sorts. Without having time to deal with the terrifying appearance of a monster and having to separate from her family, Charlie finds herself in a place called the Between and then another place called Ellauria, each more beautiful than the next and more impossibly surprising and mind blogging for Charlie.
The world building in this book is quite amazing, with a new and different take on some well known creatures and a few new and unique ones. And one of my absolute favourites parts of the book were the descriptions, given that Charlie is an artist and she would appreciate her new surroundings with an eye for detail that would differ from any other character. Not only the descriptions were amazing and beautiful but also extremely visual and helped bring the world to life.
Charlie has to deal with so many revelations and life shaking truths she had not imagined possible that I can't blame her for her disbelief and rather rash behaviour on occasion. She ends up handling things rather well and even if she challenges a few rules along the way. Her relationship with Seth is quite interesting and seeing how it changes with all the revelations and how it evolves from sort of brotherly to forbidden. There was a slight hint at a love triangle around but thankfully it was discarded/resolved quite early on.
The pacing of the book was good, even if it seemed like there was three quarters of the book of build up and only the last quarter for the big showdown. And despite the main conflict being resolved, I was left a bit unsatisfied given that most of the personal conflicts are not resolved, and that leads me to wonder if Between will have a sequel, which is my hope!
A unique mix of fantasy and paranormal, well deserving of 3.5 stars!
Read
July 24, 2014Thank you to Spencer Hill Press for the review copy.
Cover: - Awesome - The designer nailed it! It fits the novel to the tee. I love the graphics, colors, font!
The novel: Love anything that has to do with magic and magical creatures? Then this is the novel for you. Charlie Page, an artistic teenager, quickly discovers that all is not normal in her world. As a matter of fact, she's thrust into a world (Ellauria) she didn't even know existed. As readers, we get to discover a whole new world of supernatural and magical creatures at the same time Charlie does. We struggle along with her for her need to exert independence and break rules. Issues involving family, loyalty, love, and friendship are central to this novel. So are good and evil.
There are vivid descriptions of the environment, creatures, and characters. Readers won't have any issues visualizing the world Megan creates in BETWEEN. I love how she incorporates the Mothman, fey, unicorns, Boogeyman, menfolk and many more. I'm certain that readers will like Seth, Charlie's protector. He's sweet, loyal, and devoted to Charlie. Another wonderful strength to this novel is the role Mother Nature plays in Charlie's life. It makes you think about how we are all stewards of Earth.
Fantasy lovers this is a win. I highly recommend libraries and schools have this book on their shelves. It's "clean" and perfect for strong readers from 5th grade and up. Let me explain, because of the content, as a teacher, I would have absolutely no problem saying to a fifth grader, "You're ready for a more mature book? I've got a great one for you!" That being said, BETWEEN will most definitely appeal to all YA who love fantasy!
Congrats, Megan! Well done.
Cover: - Awesome - The designer nailed it! It fits the novel to the tee. I love the graphics, colors, font!
The novel: Love anything that has to do with magic and magical creatures? Then this is the novel for you. Charlie Page, an artistic teenager, quickly discovers that all is not normal in her world. As a matter of fact, she's thrust into a world (Ellauria) she didn't even know existed. As readers, we get to discover a whole new world of supernatural and magical creatures at the same time Charlie does. We struggle along with her for her need to exert independence and break rules. Issues involving family, loyalty, love, and friendship are central to this novel. So are good and evil.
There are vivid descriptions of the environment, creatures, and characters. Readers won't have any issues visualizing the world Megan creates in BETWEEN. I love how she incorporates the Mothman, fey, unicorns, Boogeyman, menfolk and many more. I'm certain that readers will like Seth, Charlie's protector. He's sweet, loyal, and devoted to Charlie. Another wonderful strength to this novel is the role Mother Nature plays in Charlie's life. It makes you think about how we are all stewards of Earth.
Fantasy lovers this is a win. I highly recommend libraries and schools have this book on their shelves. It's "clean" and perfect for strong readers from 5th grade and up. Let me explain, because of the content, as a teacher, I would have absolutely no problem saying to a fifth grader, "You're ready for a more mature book? I've got a great one for you!" That being said, BETWEEN will most definitely appeal to all YA who love fantasy!
Congrats, Megan! Well done.
August 9, 2014
OUaT's Review
That moment where you open a book, begin to read a book, that immediately connects you to characters and setting, yearning to read more. Now that’s my kind of read! Between, opens up with a modern day declaration of love and connectedness between a brother and sister, twins. Charlotte and Sam are artistic in their own unique way. One specializes in visual Arts, the other music. Life is going smoothly, living with their mother, now a single parent. However the world that they think they live in, is not that world. It’s not the world of common teenage experiences and high school. It’s a world that’s about to be so much more. Between, is a great read that I’m so glad I was able to get my hands on. The cover truly got my attention first. It captures the essence of the concept of the novel.
The cover is simple, with just enough whimsical expressions to catch our attention. The descriptions and make up of the characters are well written. I found myself making a bigger connection with a minor character, Seth. His initial determination and devotion, captured my heart from the beginning. As Charlotte (Charlie) discovers that she is more than she thought she was, she has to immediately learn how to utilize that knowledge and press forward. Learn what she can quickly and fight for what she loves. Lastly, Between has some elements that I could connect to other readings. For example, the concept of the “Fellowship” now where have a hard that form? However, this was a “Fellowship” that I could understand, relate to and connect with. Megan did a wonderful job crafting together elements of love, powers, mystical worlds and determination in this fast new read .
July 31, 2014
I featured Between as a previous W.O.W. post because the premise, blurb and cover excited me. I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint!
Main character Charlie (Charlotte) finds herself being thrown headfirst into a difficult and strange situation and doesn't know who to trust. Charlie has to flee to the Between, where she learns about magic and all things mythological. Even though she's suddenly surrounded by the unknown and magical (a few teenage bratty moments aside), she deals with it all well. She's sweet, fierce, headstrong and desperate for answers. Charlie can be rash but it was easy to understand why she reacts at times but I kept hoping we'd get more answers.
I found Seth intriguing and didn't always know what to make of him. He's both endearing and infuriating, but handles everything well. I appreciated his loyalty, although he could have been a bit more open. In a strange kinda way he reminded me a bit of Dimitri from Vampire Academy.
The concept of the in Between was clever and the world building was really imaginative. Sometimes fantasy books can be heavy with descriptions but in this case it worked well and added to the story.
There are a large number of characters, which was a little confusing at times. The secondary characters were good and I wanted to see more of certain ones and less of others. I enjoyed the twist and turns and am looking forward to the next instalment.
4 Stars in my Sky!
I received a copy from Spencer Hill Press in exchange for an honest review!
Also reviewed on my blog Zili in the Sky
August 8, 2014
That moment where you open a book, begin to read a book, that immediately connects you to characters and setting, yearning to read more. Now that’s my kind of read! Between, opens up with a modern day declaration of love and connectedness between a brother and sister, twins. Charlotte and Sam are artistic in their own unique way. One specializes in visual Arts, the other music. Life is going smoothly, living with their mother, now a single parent. However the world that they think they live in, is not that world. It’s not the world of common teenage experiences and high school. It’s a world that’s about to be so much more. Between, is a great read that I’m so glad I was able to get my hands on. The cover truly got my attention first. It captures the essence of the concept of the novel.
The cover is simple, with just enough whimsical expressions to catch our attention. The descriptions and make up of the characters are well written. I found myself making a bigger connection with a minor character, Seth. His initial determination and devotion, captured my heart from the beginning. As Charlotte (Charlie) discovers that she is more than she thought she was, she has to immediately learn how to utilize that knowledge and press forward. Learn what she can quickly and fight for what she loves. Lastly, Between has some elements that I could connect to other readings. For example, the concept of the “Fellowship” now where have a hard that form? However, this was a “Fellowship” that I could understand, relate to and connect with. Megan did a wonderful job crafting together elements of love, powers, mystical worlds and determination in this fast new read .
The cover is simple, with just enough whimsical expressions to catch our attention. The descriptions and make up of the characters are well written. I found myself making a bigger connection with a minor character, Seth. His initial determination and devotion, captured my heart from the beginning. As Charlotte (Charlie) discovers that she is more than she thought she was, she has to immediately learn how to utilize that knowledge and press forward. Learn what she can quickly and fight for what she loves. Lastly, Between has some elements that I could connect to other readings. For example, the concept of the “Fellowship” now where have a hard that form? However, this was a “Fellowship” that I could understand, relate to and connect with. Megan did a wonderful job crafting together elements of love, powers, mystical worlds and determination in this fast new read .
August 3, 2014
4.5 stars
Why you should read it: This is fantasy YA at its best, and I loved traveling through Ellauria and in the ins and outs of the Fellowship. Megan has created a complete world full of magic, creatures, power growing in Charlie. Charlie is also one of my favorite heroines, she's so strong and full of life. Her evolution isn't from weak girl to strong woman, but strong girl into a powerful woman. I also loved the descriptions of the creatures. Readers are in for a treat (if you are of the magically inclined). Now let's talk about Seth … Seth is great. His back-and-forth with Charlie had me laughing and loving their relationship growth. I simply cannot wait for the sequel!
To see what Megan has to say about her heroine and what she's working on now head over to the HEA blog!!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
Why you should read it: This is fantasy YA at its best, and I loved traveling through Ellauria and in the ins and outs of the Fellowship. Megan has created a complete world full of magic, creatures, power growing in Charlie. Charlie is also one of my favorite heroines, she's so strong and full of life. Her evolution isn't from weak girl to strong woman, but strong girl into a powerful woman. I also loved the descriptions of the creatures. Readers are in for a treat (if you are of the magically inclined). Now let's talk about Seth … Seth is great. His back-and-forth with Charlie had me laughing and loving their relationship growth. I simply cannot wait for the sequel!
To see what Megan has to say about her heroine and what she's working on now head over to the HEA blog!!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
August 4, 2014
This book was just so much fun to read! Of all the fantasy realms Ellauria and the Between would be my favorite. This author writes beautifully! The descriptions and imagery in this book are amazing! I loved the characters which are well developed. The main character Charlie is very likeable and at times hilarious. The chemistry between her and Seth is sweet and they really complement each other. I really liked every other character in this story and all the magic and mystical creatures were a blast. This book really has it all a exciting story, wonderful writing, great characters, interesting magic, great world building, and a nice romance. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book. I will be looking forward to the next one in the series and reading anything else this author writes.
July 18, 2014
Fantastic fun! That's what this book is. I don't want to give away the nature of Charlie's paranormal abilities, but it's a premise I've never seen before. I kept trying to think of a book I'd compare it to and the closest I can get is: "A mash-up of Harry Potter and the Mortal Instruments, with a dash of Kiersten White cheekiness."
An unduckingbelievably* good read!
*you'll get that joke after you read the book
An unduckingbelievably* good read!
*you'll get that joke after you read the book
August 4, 2014
I loved this book! I finished it in two days and can't wait for book 2 in this series. The storytelling is vividly descriptive and I hated to put it down. If you are a fan of young adult literature, this is a must-read. Kudos to Megan Whitmer - what an amazing first novel!
Megan Whitmer
Megan Whitmer
August 4, 2014
Holy sheet! BETWEEN is an awesome read! There's magic and romance, with a side of fantastic voice. Megan Whitmer has created a realm so vivid and beautiful, the reader can't help but want to be a part of it. This is a must read!!!
January 17, 2013
I've read any early version and cannot wait to see this in print! Fantastical snark and sweet romance! Megan is a master.
August 3, 2014
Love, love, love! If you enjoy YA fantasy, this is the book for you! Hooked from chapter one! Character depth and story opportunity are endless. Can not wait for book two!
July 20, 2014
A great start to the series! review to come.
August 20, 2014
My original review for this title can be found
here
on The Book Hookup.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♣ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 3.5 stars! As of late, I’ve neglected the supernatural for fantasy and contemporaries, so this was a fun place to reconnect with new and old mythical beings. Vivid imagery and lively characters made for an enjoyable read, and the book was over before I knew it.
♣ The Lowdown: For all Charlie (Charlotte) Page’s life, it’s just been her, her twin brother, Sam, her mom, and their neighbor, Seth. The only special thing about her had been her art, her ability to transform a blank canvas into something beautiful with whatever medium she chose. But on the night of her and Sam’s seventeenth birthday, all sense of normalcy comes crashing to a screeching halt. Swept away to a mystical realm where every creature from myth and legend comes to life before her very eyes, Charlie has to cope with the idea that her entire life has been a lie. Her mom and her brother aren’t her blood family, Seth isn’t just her “neighbor” but her protector, and, above all else, she’s a descendant of Mother Nature, a pure muralet. Not only that, but others like her had been hunted to extinction because of the pure magic her blood contains and she’s the very last one.
However, something is amiss in this magical world, and someone very sinister is behind it. The key to saving ever magical creature in existence, including her missing mom and brother, rests on the shoulders of Charlie, she just has to decide if she’s brave enough to carry the burden.
♣ My Thoughts: Whitmer managed to catch my attention early on. With easily likable characters, her dialogue flowed smoothly and I found myself rather fond and invested in the happenings that were occurring around them. I felt a particular kinship with Charlie, having a game where I can think of creative curses and a streak of rebellious behavior myself. Seth was stoic in every representation of the word, a rule follower, loyal to his position and the people he cares about. But it was in his flaws and vulnerability that I found myself the most drawn to him. The same goes for Keiran, who my heart tugged for in strange ways. (This is not a love triangle, much to my relief, so don’t think so. He was a genuinely good guy friend to Charlie, and I appreciated it.) I felt quite strongly about his troubles and those things he was struggling to deal with surrounding his identity, but I truly loved his charm as well.
Where I felt Whitmer shined the greatest was how she painted her surroundings and creatures with such vibrancy with her words, that I truly felt like I was there and visualizing everything myself. It was easy to be caught up in this magical world of Elluria and The Between, picturing mermaids, pixies, trolls, and all the other creatures your mind conjures up with such a vivid imagination as a child. It was like frolicking through long forgotten memories and I enjoyed living in this world she had created with new and old beings reimagined.
The author’s effortless pacing guided the story into a steady rhythm that made each scene transition into the next without pause. This made the novel a quick and easy read. Though, I will say that I kept waiting for the battle to come and it was over so quickly. I literally looked at my kindle at 79% and thought, How can she possibly wrap this novel up with so few pages left? Still, it didn’t seemed force or too rushed, but it felt like a giant build-up for so few pages of fighting.
I will say there are a few little critiques I had for the book, ones that were the reason for my rating being lower. First, I wanted to feel the emotions more strongly, between the friendships and the romances, and the personal struggles each character seemed to be experiencing. There seemed to be a more telling me that the characters were frustrated/sad/angry/experiencing longing rather than showing me through their actions and dialogue. The other was that I felt like Whitmer went the more stereotypical route with all the supernaturals. Fairies were bitchy and perfect. Harpies were crazed, flesh-eating psychos. Trolls were lumbering and stupid. It’s fine, but I just think she could have had so much creative freedom with this story, and I would’ve liked to see her truly bring these characters to life without falling back on old traits that we already “know” about them.
Lastly, the ending felt very open. One that I could be satisfied with, but also like it was left very vague in the hopes that she would be able to continue on with the storyline at a later point. It’s nothing that bothered me, but something that I felt I needed to state for those that are looking at this like a complete stand-alone. I mean, it is complete, but there wasn’t a ring of finality to it.
♣ Swoons: Seth can be maddening at time because of his rule-following (I so felt Charlie’s frustration with this), but he had his moments. *sigh*
♣ Swoony Teaser:
♣ Rec It? If you’re looking for a quick read, something on the supernatural side, with fun characters, then definitely give this one a go!
♥ A very special thanks to Spencer Hill Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my review.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♣ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 3.5 stars! As of late, I’ve neglected the supernatural for fantasy and contemporaries, so this was a fun place to reconnect with new and old mythical beings. Vivid imagery and lively characters made for an enjoyable read, and the book was over before I knew it.
♣ The Lowdown: For all Charlie (Charlotte) Page’s life, it’s just been her, her twin brother, Sam, her mom, and their neighbor, Seth. The only special thing about her had been her art, her ability to transform a blank canvas into something beautiful with whatever medium she chose. But on the night of her and Sam’s seventeenth birthday, all sense of normalcy comes crashing to a screeching halt. Swept away to a mystical realm where every creature from myth and legend comes to life before her very eyes, Charlie has to cope with the idea that her entire life has been a lie. Her mom and her brother aren’t her blood family, Seth isn’t just her “neighbor” but her protector, and, above all else, she’s a descendant of Mother Nature, a pure muralet. Not only that, but others like her had been hunted to extinction because of the pure magic her blood contains and she’s the very last one.
However, something is amiss in this magical world, and someone very sinister is behind it. The key to saving ever magical creature in existence, including her missing mom and brother, rests on the shoulders of Charlie, she just has to decide if she’s brave enough to carry the burden.
♣ My Thoughts: Whitmer managed to catch my attention early on. With easily likable characters, her dialogue flowed smoothly and I found myself rather fond and invested in the happenings that were occurring around them. I felt a particular kinship with Charlie, having a game where I can think of creative curses and a streak of rebellious behavior myself. Seth was stoic in every representation of the word, a rule follower, loyal to his position and the people he cares about. But it was in his flaws and vulnerability that I found myself the most drawn to him. The same goes for Keiran, who my heart tugged for in strange ways. (This is not a love triangle, much to my relief, so don’t think so. He was a genuinely good guy friend to Charlie, and I appreciated it.) I felt quite strongly about his troubles and those things he was struggling to deal with surrounding his identity, but I truly loved his charm as well.
Where I felt Whitmer shined the greatest was how she painted her surroundings and creatures with such vibrancy with her words, that I truly felt like I was there and visualizing everything myself. It was easy to be caught up in this magical world of Elluria and The Between, picturing mermaids, pixies, trolls, and all the other creatures your mind conjures up with such a vivid imagination as a child. It was like frolicking through long forgotten memories and I enjoyed living in this world she had created with new and old beings reimagined.
The author’s effortless pacing guided the story into a steady rhythm that made each scene transition into the next without pause. This made the novel a quick and easy read. Though, I will say that I kept waiting for the battle to come and it was over so quickly. I literally looked at my kindle at 79% and thought, How can she possibly wrap this novel up with so few pages left? Still, it didn’t seemed force or too rushed, but it felt like a giant build-up for so few pages of fighting.
I will say there are a few little critiques I had for the book, ones that were the reason for my rating being lower. First, I wanted to feel the emotions more strongly, between the friendships and the romances, and the personal struggles each character seemed to be experiencing. There seemed to be a more telling me that the characters were frustrated/sad/angry/experiencing longing rather than showing me through their actions and dialogue. The other was that I felt like Whitmer went the more stereotypical route with all the supernaturals. Fairies were bitchy and perfect. Harpies were crazed, flesh-eating psychos. Trolls were lumbering and stupid. It’s fine, but I just think she could have had so much creative freedom with this story, and I would’ve liked to see her truly bring these characters to life without falling back on old traits that we already “know” about them.
Lastly, the ending felt very open. One that I could be satisfied with, but also like it was left very vague in the hopes that she would be able to continue on with the storyline at a later point. It’s nothing that bothered me, but something that I felt I needed to state for those that are looking at this like a complete stand-alone. I mean, it is complete, but there wasn’t a ring of finality to it.
♣ Swoons: Seth can be maddening at time because of his rule-following (I so felt Charlie’s frustration with this), but he had his moments. *sigh*
♣ Swoony Teaser:
“I want to kiss you just to know what it’s like,” he says quietly.
…
“But I can’t,” he whispers, “because once I kiss you, I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to stop.”
~quote taken from the eARC of Between at 64%
♣ Rec It? If you’re looking for a quick read, something on the supernatural side, with fun characters, then definitely give this one a go!
♥ A very special thanks to Spencer Hill Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my review.
May 11, 2015
My Review:
I picked up this book at BEA in 2014 and loved the cover and the synopsis was so interesting I knew that I had to read it soon. Well it took me longer than I would have liked but I am so glad I read it.
Charlie (Charlotte) can be a tad bit annoying but I honestly loved her. I felt for her and everything that was happening, I can feel her confusion and knew she loved her family and just wanted them back with her. Her relationship with her mom and brother was sweet so when they go missing I felt her pain of missing them and wanting them back with her when she finds out secrets of who she is and what has happened. Seth is a cutie, very serious and protective of Charlie. The story had a hint of a love triangle Keiran seemed to hang around or show up when Charlie and Seth were together but you can tell that Seth and Charlie were just meant for each other even if in the realm of Ellauria is was not allowed for them to be dating. As much as I liked Keiran I just felt that Seth was the one for her however I adored both boys. Lulu is one of the fairies I would have loved a little more of her, she was super friendly and very cute. Clara was just a jerk, I could have done without her however she made for an interesting mean fairy.
The story is different and so beautifully told with an amazing amount of world build. As you read you can actually picture the places the characters go. The Between is a magic realm created my Mother Nature it holds the purest of magic and all the those creatures in the world that we think we see are actual creatures. Ellauria is a realm of magical beings like Fairys, Elfs, Leprechauns, Etc.. they all live here to keep from being seen by humans. If one of the creatures are seen then a group of people called the fellowship find the person who saw them to discredit what they saw so the people of Ellauria can stay hidden. So that guy who took a picture of the Loch Ness monster well he probably did see him but the fellowship made sure it appeared to be not true. I loved how the world was explained and how everything works. Whalen was once a member of the original people who created Ellauria and he was out to destroy the Between. I was not a fan of him and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t suppose to like him either. He wasn’t in the book that much but mentioned a lot. However I was fine with not having him in the book that much because he seemed like a scary guy. The story wasn’t slow at all it flowed very nicely and when I thought it was starting to get just a little slow it picked right back up. I had a hard time putting this one down and the end was a little quick but it answers all the questions I had and it really was exciting.
I gave The Between 4.5 stars because Charlie had a tab bit of a listening issue and she was a little stubborn, as much as she was a great character when someone tells you to run, you run. This is my first book from Megan Whitmer and I don’t expect it to be my last. I do hope this book will have a number two but either way I enjoyed it very much and this it is a great read if you are looking for something a little different with a wonderful world build.
This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life
I picked up this book at BEA in 2014 and loved the cover and the synopsis was so interesting I knew that I had to read it soon. Well it took me longer than I would have liked but I am so glad I read it.
Charlie (Charlotte) can be a tad bit annoying but I honestly loved her. I felt for her and everything that was happening, I can feel her confusion and knew she loved her family and just wanted them back with her. Her relationship with her mom and brother was sweet so when they go missing I felt her pain of missing them and wanting them back with her when she finds out secrets of who she is and what has happened. Seth is a cutie, very serious and protective of Charlie. The story had a hint of a love triangle Keiran seemed to hang around or show up when Charlie and Seth were together but you can tell that Seth and Charlie were just meant for each other even if in the realm of Ellauria is was not allowed for them to be dating. As much as I liked Keiran I just felt that Seth was the one for her however I adored both boys. Lulu is one of the fairies I would have loved a little more of her, she was super friendly and very cute. Clara was just a jerk, I could have done without her however she made for an interesting mean fairy.
The story is different and so beautifully told with an amazing amount of world build. As you read you can actually picture the places the characters go. The Between is a magic realm created my Mother Nature it holds the purest of magic and all the those creatures in the world that we think we see are actual creatures. Ellauria is a realm of magical beings like Fairys, Elfs, Leprechauns, Etc.. they all live here to keep from being seen by humans. If one of the creatures are seen then a group of people called the fellowship find the person who saw them to discredit what they saw so the people of Ellauria can stay hidden. So that guy who took a picture of the Loch Ness monster well he probably did see him but the fellowship made sure it appeared to be not true. I loved how the world was explained and how everything works. Whalen was once a member of the original people who created Ellauria and he was out to destroy the Between. I was not a fan of him and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t suppose to like him either. He wasn’t in the book that much but mentioned a lot. However I was fine with not having him in the book that much because he seemed like a scary guy. The story wasn’t slow at all it flowed very nicely and when I thought it was starting to get just a little slow it picked right back up. I had a hard time putting this one down and the end was a little quick but it answers all the questions I had and it really was exciting.
I gave The Between 4.5 stars because Charlie had a tab bit of a listening issue and she was a little stubborn, as much as she was a great character when someone tells you to run, you run. This is my first book from Megan Whitmer and I don’t expect it to be my last. I do hope this book will have a number two but either way I enjoyed it very much and this it is a great read if you are looking for something a little different with a wonderful world build.
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Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my review
Hope you have a great day and Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life
August 12, 2014
Review to come!
Update 8/11/14:
I was greatly surprised by how much I enjoyed this new novel. This is a fantastic adventure that starts from the moment you open the book to the moment you close it. I was surprised to learn that this is Ms. Whitmer's first book because the writing was excellent, and the book read like a seasoned author had written it. She is definitely one to watch, and I am definitely going to be checking out what she writes in the future. The descriptions in this book were one of the standout aspects that blew me away. Every scene is rich in detail, and makes you long to be in Ellauria and the Between. The world is also very well crafted, and extremely unique. Ms. Whitmer did an excellent job at explaining everything- since this is an entirely new world, and nothing like you've read before. I never once felt overwhelmed by the amount of information. Ms. Whitmer reveals information in a way that both is intriguing to the reader and the characters alike.
Charlie was a great heroine. She had spunk, was snarky, and relatable. Charlie is also a very strong main character that is fiercely loyal to those around her, and while she had some moments where I just wanted to shake her, overall I greatly enjoyed reading from her POV. Seth...I just absolutely love Seth! He is such a sweetie, and perfect for Charlie in every way. Seth is definitely a great mentor for her, and I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in the next book. The romance in this novel is nice and light. It's not all hot and heavy, and gives a reader who is also into NA books a nice reprieve from crazysexyromance. It was very well handled, and they are the perfect couple. Charlie and Seth have a nice balance, and have a wit to match!
The plot of this novel is also standout and unique in my opinion. It was fast paced, and you'll easily fly through the pages. There was never a time when I felt the story drag or was boring. I highly recommend checking this book out because it is not to be missed. It has many twists and turns, and I am eager to find out how the story will pan out. Have fun jumping into Charlie's world, and embarking on this never-ending adventure! Happy reading :)
Update 8/11/14:
I was greatly surprised by how much I enjoyed this new novel. This is a fantastic adventure that starts from the moment you open the book to the moment you close it. I was surprised to learn that this is Ms. Whitmer's first book because the writing was excellent, and the book read like a seasoned author had written it. She is definitely one to watch, and I am definitely going to be checking out what she writes in the future. The descriptions in this book were one of the standout aspects that blew me away. Every scene is rich in detail, and makes you long to be in Ellauria and the Between. The world is also very well crafted, and extremely unique. Ms. Whitmer did an excellent job at explaining everything- since this is an entirely new world, and nothing like you've read before. I never once felt overwhelmed by the amount of information. Ms. Whitmer reveals information in a way that both is intriguing to the reader and the characters alike.
Charlie was a great heroine. She had spunk, was snarky, and relatable. Charlie is also a very strong main character that is fiercely loyal to those around her, and while she had some moments where I just wanted to shake her, overall I greatly enjoyed reading from her POV. Seth...I just absolutely love Seth! He is such a sweetie, and perfect for Charlie in every way. Seth is definitely a great mentor for her, and I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in the next book. The romance in this novel is nice and light. It's not all hot and heavy, and gives a reader who is also into NA books a nice reprieve from crazysexyromance. It was very well handled, and they are the perfect couple. Charlie and Seth have a nice balance, and have a wit to match!
The plot of this novel is also standout and unique in my opinion. It was fast paced, and you'll easily fly through the pages. There was never a time when I felt the story drag or was boring. I highly recommend checking this book out because it is not to be missed. It has many twists and turns, and I am eager to find out how the story will pan out. Have fun jumping into Charlie's world, and embarking on this never-ending adventure! Happy reading :)
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